Write an annual intention in one sentence
An annual intention is one sentence that says what this year is for. You write it once and check your decisions against it all year.
The sentence starts with "This is the year I". That opening needs a verb after it, and the verb is the part you act on.
If you’ve picked a word of the year before, this is the same idea with a verb added. This is the year I stop taking work I do not want tells you what to do when that kind of work is offered.
How to write an annual intention
- Start with "This is the year I…"Finish the sentence with a verb and the thing you’ll do. Keep it to one line.
- Read it backRead it once in your normal speaking voice. Change any word you wouldn’t use yourself.
- Write down why that oneAdd a line on what changes if the year goes the way the sentence says. The workspace asks for this line too, under Why that one.
Write it six weeks early
Mid November is a good time to write it. You’re still inside this year, so what you’re sick of and what you’d keep are easy to see.
What a good one sounds like
- This is the year I stop being the only person who knows how anything works.
- This is the year I get my evenings back.
- This is the year I finish something instead of starting three things.
- This is the year I take the business seriously enough to pay myself.
Each one names something to do more of or to stop doing.
Check whether the sentence could belong to anyone else. If it could, add the thing only you would name: the client, the evening, the business.
Put it on your title page
In Astera the title page opens in the editor, and you can add a subtitle and a quote to it. Put your sentence there, under your title. It’s the first page you see each time you open the book.
In any other notebook, write it inside the front cover.
Questions
What is the difference between an intention and a goal?
A goal has a finish line and a date. An intention has neither, and you check your goals against it. One intention and about three goals is a good mix.
Can I write one in the middle of the year?
Yes. Count the year from the month you’re in and write the sentence the same way.
Can I have more than one?
You can. Two sentences often pull in different directions, and choosing between them is worth doing before the year starts.